Jeff WadsworthPresident & CEO

NOVEMBER 2018

President & CEO, Poudre Valley REAJeff Wadsworth

Great Member Value - Supporting Our VeteransAs we get closer to Thanksgiving, there are many things I think of that I can be thankful for – my family, health and the great people I work with. When I think of the Co-op, I am thankful for the great value the Co-op brings me as a member, and as an employee. One value of the Co-op I am especially proud and appreciative of is the Co-op’s support of our veterans.

The Co-op has a special affinity for veterans. Perhaps because we are both so closely aligned in outlook,

focusing on service, mission and country. Maybe it’s because a number of veterans come from our communities and return to their hometowns following active duty. Or, maybe it’s due to the shared work ethic of teamwork, cooperation and a “get it done” attitude.

Here at PVREA, we support our veterans in many ways. We led a strategic initiative to hire veterans into our workforce, and I’m proud to say 10 percent of our workforce are veterans, including one employee who currently serves in the National Guard. We are grateful to have veterans within our ranks, and we are proud to serve veterans and their families within our local community. The Co-op also understands the importance of supporting the resources provided to our men and women who have worn the uniform; we donate time and resources to organizations such as The Northern Colorado Veteran Resource Center and Marine Corps Toys for Tots.

PVREA’s employees also have a heart for serving those who have served our country. PVREA employee Ken McCoy volunteers with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, an

organization who uses the sport of fly fishing for therapeutic outdoor recreation for disabled veterans. Employees at the Co-op team up with our local Lions Club and students to place flags on our campus for notable days throughout the year, such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, and upcoming Veterans Day on November 11.

At a national level, we are among the more than 900 electric co-ops across the country to support the “Serve our Co-ops; Serve Our Country” program, a nationwide initiative aimed at employing and honoring veterans, military service members and their spouses. This program came with a great vision of forming a national coalition with the shared goal of hiring veterans into co-op jobs across rural and suburban America and setting them up for success in their local communities.

As part of a co-op veteran outreach effort, America’s electric cooperatives worked together to establish a national employee resource group, Veterans in Energy. The group provides transition, retention and professional development support to military veterans working in the energy industry.

As we approach Veterans Day, I want to thank all those who have worn the uniform. This day has special significance for me as my father is an Army Veteran who served during the Vietnam War and my grandfather was a Navy Veteran who was deployed overseas in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

I encourage you to thank the people you know—or don’t know for that matter—who have worn the uniform and served this country in the military. We all owe our veterans sincere gratitude for preserving and defending our great nation.

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he received word one of his fellow Marines passed away. This tragedy became a pattern- he lost his friends, military brothers, regularly due to suicide and reckless behavior. After attending his friend’s funeral in 2014, he felt the need to do something. He felt that God gave him the desire and confidence to take a stand to help other veterans transition back to civilian life after serving overseas.

Adjusting back to civilian life from active duty was difficult for Swift. He ran into obstacles adjusting mentally, finding a job and taking steps to make himself feel like a functioning part of society again. When he reached out to organizations for help, he felt like he was getting the runaround. He was directed to assistance programs and traveled to many of them all the way from Denver to Cheyenne. When he thought about helping his fellow veterans, he wanted to eliminate this inconvenience. He wanted to have the vital resources that veterans need, all in one spot.

Youth Programs for Your Student

Member SpotlightNorthern Colorado Veterans Resource Center

“You become family with the guys you serve with in the military,” Harrison Swift explained.

He was born in Mingo, Iowa and raised on a farm that produced everything from pigs and cattle to corn and soybeans. After he graduated high school, he went to college, but his plans changed when he heard a story on the radio of, yet another young soldier killed overseas. He went to a recruiting office and enlisted in the Marines.

Fast forward, and Swift is an infantry rifleman and radio operator for his squad during his tour from 2011-2012 in Afghanistan. Fast forward further after serving in the military, Swift is back in the United States with minor knee injuries, but home with his wife Emmie.

They moved to Colorado. He was accepted in the University of Northern Colorado. That’s when things started to become difficult. The cost of living was high, and Swift couldn’t find a good job. He decided to take a low paying job and try balancing it with his classes. He was at an emotional low at this point, which was causing stress on his marriage and self-esteem. On top of financial struggles, it wasn’t long after he was back on American soil that

Harrison Swift in front of his office building in Greeley - a resource center for veterans.

Swift started working with a small business development center to help him transform his idea into a reality - The Northern Colorado Veterans Resource Center (NCVRC) was formed in 2017.

In the beginning stages of NCVRC, Swift met with a small number of veterans. The recurring themes that veterans expressed difficulties about were feeling lost and confused, dealing with events that happened overseas, not knowing the resources they had available to them, how their benefits worked and physical pain.

Using his work, military, and volunteer experience, he organized partnerships with non-profit organizations and resource services to host in his office building in Greeley. As of now, Volunteers of America, Healing Warriors, Assisted Living Locators, Rock Jennison with EXP Realty, a Veteran Affairs Transition Coordinator, and a Reiki therapist are all in-house, available in one spot. Swift and the other resources help veterans by making sure they’re enrolled in the Veterans Affairs

Harrison Swift with his squad in Afghanistan.

(VA) health care and walking them through the steps to find what they need to become successful in the civilian world. Classes are offered by an employment adviser to assist with resume building, writing cover letters and interview skills. Edward Jones also hosts financial programs to teach about budgeting and financial stability.

Swift has been amazed by the amount of money that has been given by private donors and corporate giving from Colorado and even out of state. These donations are applied to the programs and veterans directly as the resource center continues to raise funding to cover the overhead costs of the organization. The number of

veterans NCVRC is helping has increased to more than 70 people, averaging 40-years-old or younger, with the numbers growing every month. Although the future of the resource center is not set in stone, the sky is the limit.

Swift’s message for veterans is, “Just keep fighting. If you need help, come here, and we’ll help fight with you.”

For more information about NCVRC, visit www.nocovrc.com.

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PVREA sponsors an all-expense paid trip to the Youth Leadership Camp in the summer. Students will learn how a cooperative works, and gain leadership skills that are great for resumes and college applications. Extra-curricular activities include: exploring Steamboat Springs, white water rafting, playing sports, a camp dance, talent show, and venturing to the top of Mount Vernon.

STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

D.C. YOUTH TOUR

Every year, PVREA sponsors high school students to attend this all-expense paid, once-in-a-lifetime experience with 1,700 other high schoolers in our nation’s capitol. Students will cruise the Potomac, attend a play, meet members of Congress and see all the monuments. This trip looks great on resumes and college applications.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JANUARY 9

June 13-20, 2019 | Washington D.C.

PVREA wants to invest in our future, so your co-op will award 23 scholarships next year to graduating high school students whose parents or guardians are members of PVREA. Applicants are scored based on three categories: academics, well-rounded and helping-hand.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP CAMP

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JANUARY 9

July 13-18, 2019 | Steamboat Springs

APPLICATION DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 22

Youth Programs for Your Student

More details online at www.pvrea.coop. Encourage your student to apply for this free opportunity!

Member SpotlightNorthern Colorado Veterans Resource Center

PVREA Welcomes New Board Member

PVREA Wins E Source Award

PVREA was presented with the 2018 E Source Innovation in Customer Design Award on September 26 at this year’s E Source Forum. The Co-op was selected as a winner in the New Residential Products or Services category for our development of a rate selection tool, which will soon be rolled out to members.

“Our team has put in a lot of creativity and hard work in creating a new tool for the benefit of our members,” PVREA President & CEO Jeff Wadsworth commented, “We’re humbled to be recognized for our efforts in the project.”

E Source is a national market research company located in Colorado who specializes in work for utilities.

Peter Hyland has been appointed to serve on the Board of Directors, replacing previous board member Georgi Diehl who retired in August.

Hyland is a business owner in Windsor. He represents Weld County on the Board of Directors.

Office ClosingPVREA’s office will be closed November 22 and 23 for Thanksgiving.

PVREA VP, Member Relations David White and Alternative Energy Administrator Milton Geiger show off the E Source Award.

Harrison Swift with his squad in Afghanistan.

President & CEO Jeffrey Wadsworth

POUDRE VALLEY REA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

1-800-432-1012 | PO Box 272550, Fort Collins, CO 80527 | www.pvrea.coop

ChairSteven AndersonLarimer County

Vice ChairRick JohnsonLarimer County

DirectorBryan EhrlichLarimer County

DirectorJames FenderLarimer County

DirectorPeter HylandWeld County

DirectorThaine MichieLarimer County

DirectorJan PetersonLarimer County

DirectorJack SchneiderWeld County

DirectorRonald SutherlandBoulder County

Donate to the Co-op food drive NoCo Gives Back and help those in need in our communities.

Drop off your food donation between November 1-18. All food donations stay local in our Northern Colorado communities.

The donation station that collects the most food during the food drive will win $350. Second place will win $250. Third place will win $150. As an added bonus, PVREA will match the prize and donate to charities/nonprofits of the winners’ choice! The winners will be determined by how many food items are collected.

Together, we CAN make a difference.

We Can Make A DifferenceDonate to PVREA’s Community Food Drive - NoCo Gives Back

DONATION STATIONSPoudre Valley REA7649 REA ParkwayFort Collins, CO 80528

Evans Chamber of Commerce3819 Saint Vrain St. Unit C Evans, CO 80620

Severance Middle School1801 Avery Plaza St.Severance, CO 80550

Berthoud Chamber of Commerce428 Mountain AveBerthoud, CO 80513

Windsor Chamber of Commerce421 Main St.Windsor, CO 80550

Livermore Elem. School360 W. County Road 74ELivermore, CO 80536

Red Feather Lakes Elem.505 N. County Road 73CRed Feather Lakes, CO 80545

Stove Prairie Elem. School3891 Stove Prairie RdBellvue, CO 80512

Wellington Chamber of Commerce4006 Cleveland AveWellington, CO 80549

Northern Colorado Veterans Resource Center4650 W. 20th St., Suite AGreeley, CO 80634

Aunt Helen’s Coffee House800 8th AveGreeley, CO 80631

WHO POWERS YOU?Inspired by someone making a difference in your community? Tell their story and they could win a cash prize.

Visit whopowersyou.com between 10/1/18 and 11/4/18 and submit a photo of your nominee. Then tell us why that person inspires you and how they make a difference in your community.

WHO POWERS YOU?Inspired by someone making a difference in your community? Tell their story and they could win a cash prize.

Visit whopowersyou.com/enter between 10/1/18 and 11/4/18 and submit a photo of your nominee. Then tell us why that person inspires you and how they make a difference in your co-op community.

VISIT WHOPOWERSYOU.COM FOR FULL CONTEST RULESSponsored by Touchstone Energy Cooperative, Inc., 4301 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22203. ©2018.

$2,000SECOND PLACE

$1,500THIRD PLACE

$500HONORABLE MENTION

$5,000 GRANDPRIZE

Submit your nominee whopowersyou.com